Results
Anxiolytic and Anti-Depressive Effects
We assessed psychologic responses to treatment as changes in anxiety and depression using HADS and
STAI (Fig. 1). In HADS, we tested the anxiety level 1 month before aromatherapy massage, immediately
before the first, fifth and eighth massage and 1 month after massage. The results showed a significant difference
among whole periods, tested by repeated measures ANOVA (P50.01). It was found that there were no
significant changes in anxiety or depression in HADS during the waiting control period and the anxiety level
gradually reduced over time and that there were significant differences between anxiety scores 1 month
before massage and immediately before the eighth massage (P50.05) and between those tested 1 month
before and after massage (P50.01, by paired t-test and P50.05, by Bonferroni test). However, there were no
significant differences observed in the depression scores,by repeated measures ANOVA. Also, in the total HADS
score, there were significant differences among whole periods and between those of 1 month before massage
and immediately before the eighth massage P50.01, by paired t-test and P50.05 by Bonferroni test), and
between those of 1 month before and after massage (P50.01 by paired t-test and Bonferroni test), as in the
anxiety scores.